Monday, January 30, 2017

Regulator of aviation does not approve increase of fees at the airports – Diário de Notícias – Lisbon

Prices set in 2016, they will keep

The National Authority of Civil Aviation (ANAC) has not approved, provisionally, the entry into force of airport charges set by the ANA – Airports of Portugal, for this year, continuing to be applied to the prices set in 2016.

he spoke to the Lusa source of the regulator, the decision occurs because the FAA found, in the follow-up of complaints of the airlines, “they are not the necessary conditions” to proceed with the tariff increase, and requested more information to ANA.

in This sense, the authority is awaiting additional information and, when you receive them, take a final decision – which can lead to the lead to or approval of the new airport tariffs.

Until the issuance of a final decision by the regulator, the ANA “will apply in the airports of the network, the amounts of the fees subject to economic regulation adopted and in force from January 2016,” reads the page of the company that manages the Portuguese airports.

The company, led by Ponce de León, who since the beginning of 2013 is in the hands of the French group Vinci, has proposed, in November, the increase in airport fees at 22 cents per passenger in the airport of Lisbon this year, at 15 cents at Faro airport, at 11 cents at the Port and at 10 cents in the Azores, leaving unchanged the rates at the airports in Madeira and in the Terminal Civil de Beja.

The variation of the set of rates regulated ANA is reflected in an average increase of 1,69% in 2017, according to the company.

The climb was contested by the Association of Airlines in Portugal (RENA), which found the increase unacceptable and advocated an intervention by “more active” of the regulator and the Government.

“Are increases unjustified and unfair. Doesn’t make any sense. If there is a rise in the number of passengers at airports, which by itself already generates revenue for the ANA, is a contrassenso: increase the passenger and increase the rates, when it should be the reverse,” said Paul Geisler, president of the REINDEER.